Challenging times loom large for Brigade

Good to see battalion president Ernie Firth in improving health following his brush with Covid-19 and his appeal to everyone to stick to the rules for the greater good highlighted on the front page of last week’s Falkirk Herald.

His enthusiasm and example will hopefully be noted by all who read his story.

His return to BB business too has been welcomed perhaps as ‘one of the old dogs learning new tricks’ to which I alluded! Our best wishes to you and your family.

Further limitations in our lives are again in place and may be a precursor to further restrictions.

On a brighter note, this week I noted on a brief TV interview with a former 1st Larbert (West Church) lad; now a minister in the north of Scotland, his exalting the virtues of all those sticking to the rules.

Would there were more such young people recalling their BB upbringing perhaps verbally or by example seeking to advance Christ’s Kingdom as indicated in our Object.

I wonder how many of the students presently in trouble have allowed their so called enthusiasm to cloud their previous upbringing and even perhaps BB objectives?

I fear more challenges also looming for some companies as their churches become caught up in the current Presbytery Plan which seeks to bring different churches together as the Church of Scotland as a whole vainly struggles to finance the numbers of ministries and buildings currently supported.

The BB along with other community groups must seek to adapt to the changes which will be inevitable.

We are already making use of modern technology to bind together during ‘isolation’ and perhaps like the new breed of students will have to master more blended learning? Real challenges for officers and opportunities for a new Brigade generation?